Erinsborough


Erinsborough is the fictional suburb in which the Australian soap opera Neighbours is set. The show focuses on the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the suburb. Neighbours storylines primarily centre on the residents of [|Ramsay Street] and the other locations within Erinsborough such as [|The Waterhole], [|Harold's Store], [|Lassiter's Hotel] and [|Erinsborough High School]. Erinsborough was originally going to be named Erinsfield and it is a loose anagram of Neighbours. Throughout much of the show's run it was not stated which city of Australia Erinsborough was located in. The rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne meant that scripts did not mention that Erinsborough was a suburb of the latter city until 1994. Since the 2000s it has been explicitly stated that Erinsborough is a suburb of Melbourne.
The school and the street were some of the first sets to be seen and used by the characters within the show. The [|Lassiter's Complex] within the town was not featured on-screen until 1986, when Daphne Clarke began working at the [|Coffee Shop]. When other characters began visiting the cafe, they got to know the rest of the complex. Rosemary Daniels used the complex as a base for the Daniels Corporation and a hotel, which used to include a restaurant, a pub and the Lassiter's Lake also began appearing. There are enough different locations for characters to come into contact with each other daily and enough jobs within the complex to ensure that characters will make each other's acquaintances. The Neighbours sets underwent a makeover in 2010 ahead of the 25th anniversary in March 2011. Bulldozers moved into the Lassiter's Complex area to begin work. Many of the sets were revamped and there were some new additions.

Erinsborough High School

Erinsborough High School has been featured on screen since Neighbours began in 1985. It is a co-educational high school, and in its fictional history, it was opened shortly after the Second World War. Many of the characters have been seen attending or working there over the years. The Blackburn English Language Centre in Burwood East, Victoria, and Coburg High School have both been used for location and exterior shots. Kenneth Muir was principal of the school when the series began and Erinsborough High was regularly seen until 1986, when Scott Robinson, Charlene Mitchell, Mike Young and Jane Harris graduated. The school was not seen again on screen until late 1988.
The set features a corridor, a stairwell, an office and a classroom. Other areas of the school, including the playground and changing rooms, have been featured over the years. In 2010, the layout of the classroom was changed as was the school logo. Neighbours' oldest surviving prop is the school's emblem and motto, which is stuck on the doors leading from the car park to the studios. "Erinsborough High School: Sapienter Si Sincere" means wisdom and success. On-screen, Erinsborough High has faced the threat of closure three times, in 1991, 1997 and 2015, and the school has been merged with both West Waratah Tech and West Waratah High. Erinsborough High's uniform has also been through numerous changes, with the maroon jumper being the most consistent item. A storyline that aired in October 2015 saw a fire destroy part of the school and trap several characters inside.
In May 2011, Erinsborough High came fourth out of four in a poll run by Inside Soap to find reader's favourite fictional school, which they would most like to attend. Erinsborough High received 16% of the vote.

Erinsborough Hospital

Erinsborough Hospital is the local accident and emergency hospital. It has seen many of the show's characters pass through its doors over the years. They have been treated for a variety of illnesses including smoke inhalation, burns, heart attacks and kidney disease. Many of the characters have been born or died at the hospital, while a number of regular and recurring characters have worked at the hospital over the years. Over the years various Melbourne hospitals have been used for filming, including Austin Hospital, Dandenong Hospital, Maroondah Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The exterior of the hospital is the entrance to the Neighbours production office in Nunawading. It has also doubled as a law firm reception and a funeral home. Alan Fletcher, who plays Doctor Karl Kennedy, said it was confusing for visitors and couriers when the studio reception was used for filming hospital scenes. In 2010, the hospital underwent a revamp and a new look reception area was added.

Fitzgerald Motors

Fitzgerald Motors is the local garage, where many of the characters take their cars to be serviced. The garage was first owned by Lou Carpenter, who bought it in 1997, after deciding to expand his business empire. Lou offers mechanic Ben Atkins a chance to go into partnership with him, but Philip Martin decides to buy a two percent share of the garage to stop the arguments. After Ben leaves for Sydney, Lou hires mechanic Drew Kirk. Drew later buys into the garage and is a partner until his death in 2002. Stephanie Scully takes over the business on behalf of Drew's widow, Libby Kennedy. When she becomes pregnant, Steph gives Christine Rodd the manager's job. Janae and Janelle Timmins then buy the garage from Lou and Libby.
After Janae leaves Erinsborough, the garage is taken over by Lucas Fitzgerald. Elle Robinson later buys the garage and Steph returns to work there in 2009. Following Steph's departure, Lucas takes on Chris Pappas as an apprentice. Lucas purchases the garage from Elle and renames it Fitzgerald Motors. He sells the business to Danni Ferguson's mother in 2013, and she employs Mark Brennan. His younger brother Tyler comes to Erinsborough in 2015 to work at the garage, and shortly after Mark quits to rejoin the police force. Local businessman Dennis Dimato later purchases the garage. Lucas later purchases the garage back, promotes Tyler to manager and briefly employs Steph upon her return to Erinsborough. Mark is dismissed from the police force and returns to the garage, taking over as manager when Tyler is arrested on a murder charge. Bea Nilsson begins an apprenticeship at the garage.

Harold's Cafe

Harold's Cafe is a café and shop. It previously offered dry cleaning and postal services. During 2004, the café was burned down in a fire that also destroyed other businesses in the Lassiter's Complex. When it was rebuilt, a Post Office was included. The production staff worked with the Australia Post to create the store, which was an official registered Post Office. During The Erinsborough Tornado storyline in 2014, Lou Carpenter was trapped in Harold's Store with Susan Kennedy, who had to perform an emergency tracheotomy on him when he began choking on some food. In 2015, the store is renovated and renamed Harold's Cafe. The Rebecchi family took over running the cafe upon their introduction in 2017.

Lassiter's complex

The Lassiter's complex is a short walk from Ramsay Street and encompasses many of the local amenities, including a hotel, bar, law firm, courtyard and the Lassiter's Lake. Following the cancellation of Holiday Island, the sets were redesigned and turned into the Lassiter's complex and the swimming pool was turned into a lake. The complex exterior was not featured on-screen until 1986, when Daphne Clarke's grandfather, Harry Henderson, bought her the Coffee Shop. When characters began visiting the cafe, they also started to get to know the rest of the complex. Rosemary Daniels thought the complex would make a good base for the Daniels Corporation and she moved the company into an office there. A hotel, pub and the lake also began appearing. This meant that there was enough different locations for characters to come into contact with each other. There are also enough jobs within the complex to ensure that characters would make each other's acquaintance.
At the end of the 2004 season, Lassiter's was burnt down by returning character Paul Robinson. Paul also murders villain, Gus Cleary in the pub. When the stunt team set fire to the set, many of the trees surrounding the area also caught alight. The Herald Sun placed the Lassiter's fire at number five on their list of Neighbours top ten moments. Of the storyline, the paper said "Lassiters, the iconic hub of cafes, pubs and other businesses was for years where everyone met in Erinsborough, including the very famous pub run by Lou Carpenter. But at the end of 2004 producers wanted a massive cliff hanger, so they decided that the whole place would burn down. It was the part of the last major revamp for the soap." Sarah Megginson of SheKnows also added the fire to her list of most memorable Neighbours moments. David Walliams referenced the fire in his 2008 book, The Boy in the Dress. In early 2010, bulldozers moved into the Lassiter's complex lot to the begin work on revamping the sets ahead of the show's 25th anniversary in March 2011. The lake was drained and a new walkway was constructed. There were also some new additions, including a new Erinsborough News office.

Lassiter's Hotel

Lassiter's Hotel is a local hotel in Erinsborough. It is part of a worldwide chain of hotels in places like Darwin, London, Montana and New York. The hotel's grounds form a courtyard area, known as the Lassiter's Complex, where several independently managed businesses are located. Lassiter's used to have a shopping arcade, which had a bookstore, chemist, clothes shop and gift shop inside. Characters often stay at the hotel, and are seen socialising and working there. Lassiter's was originally owned by Jack Lassiter when it first began appearing in Neighbours. On behalf of The Daniels Corporation, Rosemary Daniels purchased the hotel in 1987. To this day, the Corporation holds a majority share interest in Lassiter's, and Rosemary's nephew Paul Robinson owns a majority share on the hotel.
In early 2010, the hotel was one of the many sets which underwent a makeover. A new black, orange and silver logo was introduced and the courtyard updated. A new mezzanine level, which contains a dining area, was added to the hotel. The mezzanine later became the focal point of Neighbours' 6000th episode and viewers saw Paul pushed from it by an unknown assailant. Real-life applications for jobs at Lassiter's have been sent in from members of the public, including one woman who sent in a full CV applying for a job on reception. In 2013, the top floors of Lassiter's are turned into The Eclipse Apartments and Paul moves into the penthouse apartment. In the "Hotel Death Trap Week" storyline that aired in April 2016, an explosion rips through the hotel, destroying it and causing the deaths of Josh and Doug Willis.

Ramsay Street

Ramsay Street is the residential cul-de-sac where many of the characters of Neighbours have lived over the years. The street was named after Jack Ramsay, the grandfather of original character Max Ramsay. The street has only featured six houses on-screen, and the numbers of the houses go from 22 to 32. Ramsay Street is in fact the end of a long road and the rest of the street's numbers are on the other side of a main road that bisects it. Pin Oak Court, in Vermont South, is the real life cul-de-sac that doubles for Ramsay Street. Neighbours has been filmed in Pin Oak Court since the series began in 1985 and it has since become popular with tourists.

Rebecchi Law

Rebecchi Law was originally a florist shop when the Lassiter's complex first opened. It is later turned into an office for the Daniels Corporation when they begin managing the hotel. Helen Daniels' chauffeur business Home James also starts operating from there. The office is stopped being used by Lassiter's in 1994. Karl Kennedy takes it over and turns it into his medical practice. Four years later physiotherapist Ruth Wilkinson takes over the over half of the office for her business. Karl leaves in 2006 and his office is taken over by Rosetta Cammeniti and then by Charlotte Stone. It then becomes part of the law practice, Tim Collins and Associates.
The company had taken over half of the office in 2004, with lawyer Toadfish Rebecchi moving in. Rosetta regains the office from Charlotte and she and Toadie remain there until they both quit the firm. They later set up their own company and buy the premises. Rebecca Napier and Samantha Fitzgerald are also employed there. The firm is renamed Rebecchi Legal in 2008 and Toadfish remains the only employee. He later forms a partnership with Ajay Kapoor and the firm is called Rebecchi Kapoor Law. Following Ajay's departure, Toadie runs the offices on his own.

The Waterhole

The Waterhole is a bar and restaurant that has always been a focal point of Neighbours. It has provided many characters with employment. From 1985 to 1994, The Waterhole was the official Lassiter's Hotel bar and was run by Madge Bishop. A gas leak in the basement caused an explosion, which destroyed the pub and injured Stephen Gottlieb. The Waterhole was rebuilt and purchased by Cheryl Stark. Cheryl renamed the pub Chez Chez and it became an independent business. Lou Carpenter inherited the pub after Cheryl died and he called it Lou's Place. Max Hoyland bought into the business in 2002. Two years later Lou's Place was set on fire and burnt to the ground by Paul Robinson. A new bar was then built on the site. Max purchased the pub with his sister Izzy and they turned it into a "groovy wine bar" called Scarlet Bar. Of the new look TV Week said "the vibe is a good deal more hip here than the previous and very traditional watering hole, Lou's Place." An office was also built into the bar.
Izzy later sold her half of the bar to Max and he gave it to Stephanie Scully. Steph revamped the bar in 2007 and named it Charlie's after her son. In late 2008, the bar was brought by Elle Robinson and run by Rebecca Robinson. Many singers and bands performed guest appearances in the bar, including Kate Ceberano and Ben Lee. In 2012, it was revealed on screen that Celeste McIntyre was managing Charlie's. Celeste hires Kate Ramsay to replace her, while Natasha Williams is employed as a barmaid and waitress. A few months later, Paul and Andrew Robinson become the new co-owners of the bar. In 2013, Sheila Canning is hired as a barmaid and later becomes the new manager. In 2014, the set underwent a makeover and the bar reverted to its first name, The Waterhole. The bar has "an industrial ambiance using natural timber and patina'd steel". A garden courtyard provides extra light. The revamp was unveiled on-screen later that year. A statement from Neighbours said the name was "a nod to Neighbours' long and colourful history while ensuring the series maintains a contemporary feel."
A writer for Inside Soap thought Chez Chez was an inappropriate name for a pub, saying "If Cheryl Stark's Chez Chez had been a fabulous bar in Paris, then perhaps the dodgy French pun would have worked. But considering it was a run-down pub in Melbourne run by the most gaudily dressed woman in the Southern Hemisphere, it didn't really come off, did it?" On 10 June 2003, Joe Roberts of the Daily Mirror reported soap fans had voted Lou's Place one of the best television pubs of all time, while Toadfish Rebecchi was voted the best television pub goer. In 2008, the pub was named one of the top ten television pubs and bars by Anna Pickard of The Guardian. She said "Although the Coffee House in Neighbours was arguably more important to the residents of Ramsay Street, Lou's gets included by dint of having the most rubbish name for a TV pub ever. Although it's not called that any more. It's probably called something immeasurably better now like The Place That Serves Beer. In September 2014, a Soap World columnist praised the name change, saying "the rebranding of the pub with the iconic 'Waterhole' moniker has been a great move."

The 82

The 82 is a bar and diner in a static W-class Melbourne tram. The show acquired tram 907 in October 2018, and announced it would form a new set. It will not be a working tram, and has been permanently welded down on the show's backlot. On-screen, the tram is delivered to Erinsborough after Karl Kennedy's sister buys it for him as a gift. He plans for it to become "a point of interest" in a part of the neighbourhood which is undergoing a regeneration. Other characters become involved in the storyline as they help refurbish the tram.

Other locations

A reporter for the Sunday Mail thought it was safer for the characters to stay in the suburb, commenting, "Whenever any Ramsay Street residents leave the cosy confines of Erinsborough, something bad always happens to them." When Erinsborough was entered into a "Most Liveable Suburb" competition, a Coventry Telegraph reporter scoffed at the idea, saying "Sure, if you can stand the frequent adultery, family feuds, drug abuse, kidnapping, deaths, health scares, hit-and-runs, financial ruin and marital breakdowns, then the sunny climate at least is rather agreeable."